Making lineup decisions can be the most frustrating or most rewarding part of fantasy football. Here to help you make those decisions are our start ’em and sit ’em picks. Fantasy decisions will only get more difficult from here on out, so let’s take a look at our early start/sit Week 6 plays.
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Start ‘Em Picks for Week 6
Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys (at LAC)
It would not surprise me at all if Dak Prescott was making a mass exodus from fantasy rosters. He’s been dreadful to start the season. Through five games, Prescott is averaging a paltry 12.6 fantasy points per game, easily a career low, and it’s not close.
At the same time, it’s been a very strange start to the season for the Cowboys. Please don’t mistake this for me saying Prescott has played well — he hasn’t. But the Cowboys have also yet to play a normal game. Every single one of their games has been decided by more than one score. They haven’t played in a neutral game script. It’s been an immense positive game script in three and a negative game script in two.
This week, the Cowboys should finally get to play a competitive contest. The Los Angeles Chargers are allowing 21.7 ppg to QBs, the fourth most in the league. They have an explosive offense capable of going shot for shot with the Cowboys. If there were ever a week for Prescott to get back on track, it’s this one.
James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills (vs. NYG)
Fantasy managers are undoubtedly disappointed in James Cook’s performance across the pond last week. The Buffalo Bills came out flat, and their running game just couldn’t get going. After four straight weeks of hitting double-digit fantasy points, Cook posted 5.1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
While Cook will never possess an elite ceiling due to the involvement of Damien Harris and Latavius Murray, he should be a strong RB2 most of the time.
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This is a great bounce-back spot for the talented lead runner against a New York Giants defense allowing 26.6 ppg to running backs, the sixth most in the league. The Giants are allowing 5.3 ypc and 1.4 touchdowns per game to RBs.
With the Bills being heavy home favorites, the running game is unlikely to get game-scripted out. Cook should remain plenty involved and return to being a high RB2 in Week 6.
Raheem Mostert, RB, Miami Dolphins (vs. CAR)
The Carolina Panthers have become another run defense we like to pick on. They’re allowing 30.5 ppg to running backs, which would be the most in the league if not for the Broncos lapping the field at 42.3. Opposing running backs are averaging 5.2 ypc against them.
Not only is the matchup great, but Mostert is about to be thrust right back into the lead role. De’Von Achane suffered a knee injury last week and is expected to miss multiple weeks. While we don’t know for sure how long he will be out, we do know he won’t be playing against the Panthers.
Jeff Wilson Jr. may be set to return, but given the five-week layoff, this is going to be Mostert’s backfield. He is set to smash with the Miami Dolphins as heavy home favorites against what may be the worst team in football.
Christian Kirk, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. IND)
The Indianapolis Colts have made a habit of getting torched by opposing teams’ WR1s. Despite Calvin Ridley’s resurgence last week, I still believe that man to be Christian Kirk for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Kirk is averaging 14 ppg, still slightly ahead of Ridley. He now gets a Colts defense allowing the ninth-most ppg to wide receivers.
As if the overall numbers aren’t favorable enough, the Colts allow the sixth-most ppg to the slot, which is where Kirk primarily operates. This is a nice spot for both Jaguars receivers. Get Kirk into lineups.
Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens (vs. TEN)
If we’re going based on the pattern this season, Zay Flowers should be a sit this week. Of course, I don’t buy into that at all.
Through five weeks, Flowers has alternated double-digit target games, with the off-game seeing no more than five targets. So far, he’s been solid but has yet to really post a ceiling game. His 17.7 fantasy points in Week 1 remain his only game above 13.
This week, the Baltimore Ravens get a Tennessee Titans defense allowing the seventh-most ppg to WRs. A whopping 74.7% of their receiving yards allowed go to the WR position.
The Ravens are home and coming off an inexplicable loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Look for their offense to get back on track in a big way. Given the Titans’ tough run defense, they should have to rely on Lamar Jackson’s arm. That should pave the way for Flowers to have a nice game. Dare I say he finds the end zone this week?
Logan Thomas, TE, Washington Commanders (at ATL)
Is this point chasing? Maybe. But at the tight end position, I won’t apologize for chasing a good player coming off a big week in a favorable matchup.
Logan Thomas has one of the best roles among TEs this season. He’s playing 80% of the snaps and is the clear second target in his team’s passing game.
Atlanta Falcons’ opponents are targeting the tight end position 30.4% of the time, by far the highest rate in the league. Why? Because it works.
The Falcons are allowing the second-most ppg to tight ends at 16.9. This is a great spot for Thomas to follow up on his stellar Week 5 performance.
Sit ‘Em Picks for Week 6
Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions (at TB)
I promise I won’t keep putting Jared Goff in this column based on whether he’s home or on the road. It’s just that Home Goff is so good, and Road Goff is so … not.
Goff has now failed to throw for multiple touchdowns in 13 of his last 14 road starts. He’s now averaging 22.1 ppg at home and 15.0 ppg on the road during his time with the Lions.
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After a stellar performance by Home Goff against the Carolina Panthers, Road Goff takes over this week against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense allowing a mere 15.1 ppg to QBs, the 10th fewest in the league.
Even if Amon-Ra St. Brown is able to return, Goff is better left on benches in Week 6.
Dameon Pierce, RB, Houston Texans (vs. NO)
It’s been a rough start to the season for Dameon Pierce. The Houston Texans RB is undoubtedly talented, but his offensive line and lack of passing work are severely capping his upside.
I’ve seen several fantasy analysts out there call Pierce a buy. I understand why. The usage is there. The role is there. But I don’t see things getting better, particularly for reasons exactly like those leading to him being a sit this week.
Pierce is averaging 9.6 ppg. He’s averaging 2.9 ypc and has scored just one rushing touchdown. Is that really a guy you want to start against a New Orleans Saints defense allowing 14.1 ppg to running backs, the fifth-fewest in the league?
Just like last week, when I had Rhamondre Stevenson as a sit ’em against this team, the next rushing touchdown the Saints allow to a running back will be the first. Sit Pierce if you can.
Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. DET)
I will preface this by saying Rachaad White isn’t a total fade. His volume will always keep him from being a complete disaster. But even coming off the bye, White is not someone you should be excited about starting.
White is not a particularly special player. He’s not terrible (for fantasy), but his performance will be heavily dictated by the caliber of the opposing defense. This week, it’s a rough one.
The Lions are allowing the third-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs at 12.6. Only the Seattle Seahawks hold running backs to a lower ypc than the Lions’ 3.1.
White will still see volume by virtue of there being no one else competent in this backfield. It will just likely be empty volume, just like two weeks ago against another elite run defense, the Saints. In that game, White carried the ball 15 times for 56 yards, while adding three receptions for 22 yards. That’s about what fantasy managers should expect this week.
Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Commanders (at ATL)
I’m not sure fantasy managers realize how underwhelming Terry McLaurin has been this season. Maybe it’s just me. Perhaps not rostering him on any fantasy teams has resulted in my not really noticing his disappointing start to the season.
McLaurin is averaging 12.6 ppg. That’s just 0.3 ppg more than Curtis Samuel. The two haven’t been much different for fantasy purposes this season.
Now, the Commanders get a Falcons defense that has been surprisingly stingy against wide receivers. They’ve allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to the position.
Teams have been attacking the Falcons via the tight end, with 31.4% of their receiving yards allowed going to that position. As for WR, it’s just 60.7%, one of the lower rates in the league.
McLaurin has given fantasy managers two WR1 performances this season. In his other three games, he’s been borderline unstartable. I fear this week may be the latter once again.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Tennessee Titans (vs. BAL)
What’s the opposite of point chasing? Point fading? Is that a thing? DeAndre Hopkins absolutely smashed last week, catching eight of 11 targets for 140 yards. Now, I want fantasy managers to sit him.
Why? Well, Hopkins really hasn’t looked good this season. As mentioned above, it’s just that every WR1 torches the Colts.
Other than last week, Hopkins’ fantasy point totals were 13.5, 8.0, 7.8, and 10.3. That is incredibly unexciting.
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While the Ravens aren’t an immovable force defensively, they’re still a below-average matchup for wide receivers. But this is less about the matchup and more about Hopkins being a declining talent. He’s not done yet, but the guy of the 2010s is certainly gone. If you started him last week, great. Don’t expect a repeat performance in Week 6.
Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons (vs. WAS)
If you hung onto Kyle Pitts and started him last week, awesome. The man almost doubled his fantasy output on the season in one game. This is me cautioning you against chasing that production.
Pitts still has just two receptions in three of his five games this season. He continues to split snaps with Jonnu Smith, and once again ran fewer routes.
This week, the Falcons play a Washington Commanders defense that has erased tight ends this season. Just 10.7% of their receiving yards allowed have gone to the tight end position. They allow 7.9 ppg to tight ends, the sixth-fewest in the league.
After a gutsy win against the Texans last week, I’m expecting the Falcons to fall flat against a Commanders team looking to bounce back after an embarrassing home loss to the Chicago Bears. The Commanders will have extended rest — this is a bad spot for Pitts.